Image processing method and image processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image processing method and an image processing apparatus are provided. In the image processing method, each of a plurality of original images is divided into K bands, where K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. A plurality of local motions of each band in any two adjacent of the original images are calculated, and a global motion of each band is calculated according to the local motions of the band. A horizontal component velocity and a vertical component velocity of each band are generated according to the global motion and a capturing time difference. A plurality of transformation matrixes corresponding to the bands are generated according to the horizontal component velocities, the vertical component velocities, a row readout time, and the width of a valid area. One of the two adjacent original images is transformed according to the transformation matrixes to generate a compensated image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 100115617, filed on May 4, 2011. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to an image processing method, and moreparticularly, to an image processing method for compensating imagedistortion caused by rolling shutter.

2. Description of Related Art

There are two types of image sensors used in digital cameras. One is CCDimage sensors, and the other is CMOS image sensors. One of the majordifferences between these two types of image sensors is the readoutmechanism, wherein the CCD image sensors adopt a synchronous shuttermechanism, while the CMOS image sensors adopt a rolling shuttermechanism.

Based on the rolling shutter mechanism, each time a CMOS image sensorexposes a row of pixels of an image, the total exposure time of each rowis the same, but each row is exposed by starting from a different timepoint, and the exposure starting time point of each row in the image hasa specific delay time. Thus, if an object captured by a digital camerahaving a CMOS image sensor does not move relative to the digital camera,the rolling shutter mechanism does not produce any problem. However,image distortion is produced if the object moves relative to the digitalcamera.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating image distortion caused by rollingshutter. Referring to FIG. 1, lossless images are shown in the first row110, distorted images are shown in the second row 120, the directions ofthe relative movement are indicated in the third row 130, and theportions marked with diagonal lines are valid areas of the images. Ifthe object moves relative to the digital camera in the horizontaldirection, as shown in FIG. 1( a) and FIG. 1( b), the images captured bythe digital camera are skew.

If the object moves relative to the digital camera in the verticaldirection, as shown in FIG. 1( c) and FIG. 1( d), the images captured bythe digital camera are shrunk or stretched. If the object moves relativeto the digital camera in drastically changing directions, as shown inFIG. 1( e), the image captured by the digital camera is deformation asjello when wobble occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an image processing method,wherein transformation matrixes are generated through velocityestimation, and a distorted image is transformed according to thetransformation matrixes to generate a compensated image, so that theproblem of image distortion is resolved.

The invention is directed to an image processing apparatus whichperforms velocity estimation on an image to generate a transformationmatrix and outputs a compensated image.

The invention provides an image processing method. A plurality oforiginal images is continuously captured according to capturing timedifference, wherein a valid area of the original images has a size ofM×N, M is the length of the valid area, N is the width of the validarea, and M and N are both positive integers. In the image processingmethod, each of the original images is divided into K bands, wherein Kis a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. A plurality of localmotions of each of the bands in any two adjacent of the original imagesis calculated, and a global motion of each of the bands is calculatedaccording to the local motions of the band. A horizontal componentvelocity and a vertical component velocity of each of the bands aregenerated according to the capturing time difference and the globalmotions respectively. A plurality of transformation matrixescorresponding to the bands is generated according to the horizontalcomponent velocities, the vertical component velocities, a row readouttime, and the width of the valid area. One of the two adjacent originalimages is transformed according to the transformation matrixes togenerate a compensated image.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a smoothing process isrespectively performed on the horizontal component velocities and thevertical component velocities to generate a plurality of smoothhorizontal component velocities and a plurality of smooth verticalcomponent velocities corresponding to the bands.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the step of generating thetransformation matrixes corresponding to the bands according to thehorizontal component velocities, the vertical component velocities, therow readout time, and the width of the valid area includes generatingthe transformation matrixes corresponding to the bands according to thesmooth horizontal component velocities, the smooth vertical componentvelocities, the row readout time, and the width of the valid area.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the row readout time is thetime required by an image processing apparatus for reading one rowwithin the valid area of the original images.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the image processing methodfurther includes following steps. A scaling matrix is generatedaccording to the length of the valid area and the width of the validarea. The compensated image is transformed according to the scalingmatrix to generate a user oriented image.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a valid area of the useroriented image has a size of M′×N′, wherein M′ is a length of the validarea of the user oriented image, N′ is a width of the valid area of theuser oriented image, and M′ and N′ are positive integers.

The invention provides an image processing apparatus for continuouslycapturing a plurality of original images according to a capturing timedifference, wherein a valid area of the original images has a size ofM×N, M is the length of the valid area, N is the width of the validarea, and M and N are both positive integers. The image processingapparatus includes a velocity estimation module and a compensator. Thevelocity estimation module divides each of the original images into Kbands, wherein K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. Thevelocity estimation module calculates a plurality of local motions ofeach of the bands in any two adjacent of the original images andcalculates a global motion of each of the bands according to the localmotions of the band. The velocity estimation module generates aplurality of horizontal component velocities and a plurality of verticalcomponent velocities of the bands according to the capturing timedifference and the global motions respectively. The compensator iscoupled to the velocity estimation module. The compensator generates aplurality of transformation matrixes corresponding to the bandsaccording to the horizontal component velocities, the vertical componentvelocities, a row readout time, and the width of the valid area. Thecompensator transforms one of the two adjacent original images accordingto the transformation matrixes to generate a compensated image.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the image processingapparatus further includes a smooth velocity generator connected betweenthe velocity estimation module and the compensator in series. The smoothvelocity generator performs a smoothing process on the horizontalcomponent velocities and the vertical component velocities respectivelyand sends the processed horizontal component velocities and theprocessed vertical component velocities to the compensator.

As described above, in the invention, regarding a skew, shrunk,stretched, or wobble caused by rolling shutter, velocity estimation isdone according to local motions and global motions to generatetransformation matrixes, and the distorted image is transformedaccording to the transformation matrixes to generate a compensatedimage, so that the problem of image distortion can be resolved.

These and other exemplary embodiments, features, aspects, and advantagesof the invention will be described and become more apparent from thedetailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunctionwith accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating image distortion caused by rollingshutter.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an image processing method according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image compensation according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating bands of an image according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according toan embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an image processing method according to anembodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an imagecompensation according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toboth FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a plurality of original images is continuouslycaptured by using an image processing apparatus having a CMOS imagesensor, wherein a valid area of the original images has a size of M×N, Mis the length of the valid area, N is the width of the valid area, and Mand N are both positive integers, as shown in FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b).First, in step S210, each original image is divided into K bands,wherein K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. Below, thepresent embodiment will be described by respectively assuming K to be 1and greater than 1.

When K is 1, each original image has only one band. In step S220, aplurality of local motions of each band in any two adjacent of theoriginal images is calculated, and a global motion of each band iscalculated according to the local motions of the band. Those havingordinary knowledge in the art should understand that a plurality oflocal motions between two consecutive original images can be calculatedthrough block matching and a global motion can be calculated accordingto these local motions. For example, a mode of the local motions may becalculated and served as the global motion. Namely, the local motionsare counted and the local motion appears the most is selected as theglobal motion. Or, an average of all the local motions may be calculatedand served as the global motion. In the present embodiment, because eachoriginal image has only one band when K is 1, only one global motion isobtained between two consecutive images.

Then, in step S230, a plurality of horizontal component velocities and aplurality of vertical component velocities of the bands are generatedaccording to a capturing time difference and the global motionsrespectively. The image processing apparatus having the CMOS imagesensor continuously captures two images at an interval of a capturingtime difference τ, and the global motion includes a horizontal componentand a vertical component. Thus, a horizontal component velocity v_(x) iscalculated by using a ratio of the horizontal component of a globalmotion to the capturing time difference τ, and a vertical componentvelocity v_(y) is calculated by using a ratio of the vertical componentof the global motion to the capturing time difference τ. Next, atransformation matrix A is generated according to the horizontalcomponent velocity v_(x), the vertical component velocity v_(y), a rowreadout time t, and the width N of the valid area (step S240).

The valid area block 310 in FIG. 3( a) shows a skew image captured by animage processing apparatus which has a CMOS image sensor and adopts arolling shutter mechanism. The skew indicates that there is relativemovement between the image processing apparatus and the captured object.In order to compensate such an image distortion to restore the originalimage in FIG. 3( a) into the undistorted image in FIG. 3( b), thecorrespondence between the valid area block 310 and the valid area block320 has to be found out. Assuming that the first pixel within the validarea block 310 is located at (x₁, y₁), through deduction, it isdetermined that in the present embodiment, the valid area block 310 canbe transformed into the valid area block 320 by using a transformationmatrix A. Herein the transformation matrix A is a 3×3 matrix, andelements of the matrix are a function of the horizontal componentvelocity v_(x), the vertical component velocity v_(y), a row readouttime t, the width N of the valid area, and the position y₁ of the pixel,wherein the row readout time t is the time required by the imageprocessing apparatus for reading one row within the valid area of theoriginal image. The transformation matrix A can be expressed as:

$A = \begin{bmatrix}a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} \\a_{21} & a_{22} & a_{23} \\0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}$ wherein${a_{11} = 1},{a_{21} = 0},{a_{13} = {v_{x}\tau\; y_{1}}},{a_{23} = {{\frac{v_{y}\tau\; y_{1}}{1 - {v_{y}\tau}}\mspace{31mu} a_{12}} = {{\frac{v_{x}{\tau\left( {N - 1} \right)}}{N + \frac{v_{x}{\tau\left( {N - 1} \right)}}{1 - {v_{y}\tau}}}\mspace{31mu} a_{22}} = \frac{N + \frac{v_{y}{\tau\left( {N - 1} \right)}}{1 - {v_{y}\tau}}}{N}}}}$

The elements a₁₁ and a₂₂ are presented to compensate the shrunk orstretched distortion of the image, the elements a₁₃ and a₂₃ arepresented to compensate any motion, and the elements a₁₂ and a₂₁ arepresented to compensate the wobble distortion.

After obtaining the transformation matrix A, the second one of twoconsecutive images is transformed by using the transformation matrix Ato generate the compensated image as shown in FIG. 3( b) (step S250).

The size of the images in FIG. 3( a) and FIG. 3( b) is the size ofimages captured by the image processing apparatus. The compensated imageis further transformed into an user oriented image. As shown in FIG. 3(c), the valid area of the user oriented image is M′×N′, wherein M′ isthe length of the valid area of the user oriented image, N′ is the widthof the valid area of the user oriented image, and M′ and N′ are bothpositive integers. Thus, in step S260, a scaling matrix B is generatedaccording to the length M of the valid area and the width N of the validarea. In the present embodiment, the scaling matrix B is also a 3×3matrix, wherein the element in the first row and the first column of thematrix is a ratio of the length M′ of the valid area of the useroriented image to the length M of the valid area of the original image,and the element in the second row and the second column of the matrix isthe ratio of the width N′ of the valid area of the user oriented imageto the width N of the valid area of the original image. The scalingmatrix B is expressed as:

$B = \begin{bmatrix}b_{11} & 0 & 0 \\0 & b_{22} & 0 \\0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}$ wherein$b_{11} = {{\frac{M^{\prime}}{M}\mspace{31mu} b_{22}} = \frac{N^{\prime}}{N}}$

The compensated image is transformed by using the scaling matrix B.Namely, the valid area block 320 is converted into the valid area block330 by using the scaling matrix B to generate the user oriented image(step S270).

It should be noted that when K is 1, since there are only one horizontalcomponent velocity v_(x) and only one vertical component velocity v_(y)between every two images, only one transformation matrix A is obtained,and accordingly only the image distortions illustrated in FIGS. 1(a)-1(d) can be compensated. The image distortions illustrated in FIGS.1( a)-1(d) are caused when the image processing apparatus and thecaptured object move relative to each other in the same direction andthe relative velocity is slow. When the image processing apparatus andthe captured object do not move relative to each other in the samedirection and the relative velocity is fast, as shown in FIG. 1( e), thewobble image distortion can be compensated in following embodiment inwhich K is greater than 1.

When K is greater than 1, each image has multiple bands. FIG. 4 is adiagram illustrating bands of an image according to an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 4, the image is divided into h bands (i.e.,the 1^(st) band Band_1 to the h^(th) band Band_h), and each band isfurther divided into d blocks. The 1^(st) block of the 1^(st) bandBand_1 is indicated as LM₁₁, the d^(th) block of the h^(th) band Band_his indicated as LM_(hd), and so on. In step S220, d local motions ofeach band in any two adjacent original images are calculated, and aglobal motion of each band is calculated according to the d localmotions of the band. Namely, each band has its own global motion. Forexample, the 1^(st) band Band_1 has a global motion GM₁, the 2^(nd) bandBand_2 has a global motion GM₂, . . . , the h^(th) band Band_h has aglobal motion GM_(h).

Similarly, in step S230, a plurality of horizontal component velocitiesand a plurality of vertical component velocities of the bands aregenerated according to the global motions and the capturing timedifference τ respectively. A horizontal component velocity v_(x1) iscalculated according to the ratio of the horizontal component of theglobal motion GM₁ of the 1^(st) band Band_1 to the capturing timedifference τ. A vertical component velocity v_(y1) is calculatedaccording to the ratio of the vertical component of the global motionGM₁ of the 1^(st) band Band_1 to the capturing time difference τ. Thus,in the present embodiment, there are h horizontal component velocitiesv_(x1)-v_(xh) and h vertical component velocities v_(y1)-v_(yh).

The present embodiment is aimed at resolving the wobble imagedistortion, which means the horizontal component velocitiesv_(x1)-v_(xh) and the vertical component velocities v_(y1)-v_(yh),between different bands may be very different. Accordingly, a smoothingprocess is performed on the horizontal component velocitiesv_(x1)-v_(xh) and the vertical component velocities v_(y1)-v_(yh) togenerate a plurality of smooth horizontal component velocities and aplurality of smooth vertical component velocities corresponding to thebands. The smoothing process may be a weighting sum operation. Forexample, the horizontal component velocity v_(x2) of the 2^(nd) band canbe calculated through:

$v_{x\; 2} = \frac{v_{x\; 1} + {2 \times v_{x\; 2}} + v_{x\; 3}}{4}$

Transformation matrixes A1-Ah corresponding to the bands are generatedaccording to the smooth horizontal component velocities, the smoothvertical component velocities, a row readout time, and the width of thevalid area (step S240). After that, each block in the second one of thetwo consecutive images is transformed according to the correspondingtransformation matrix, so as to obtain a compensated image (step S250).

The invention further provides an image processing apparatuscorresponding to the image processing method in each embodimentdescribed above. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.5, the image processing apparatus 50 includes a velocity estimationmodule 510 and a compensator 530. The velocity estimation module 510divides each original image into K bands (K is a positive integergreater than or equal to 1), calculates a plurality of local motions ofeach band in any two adjacent original images, and calculates a globalmotion of each bands according to the local motions of the band. Thevelocity estimation module 510 further generates a plurality ofhorizontal component velocities and a plurality of vertical componentvelocities of the bands according to the global motions and a capturingtime difference.

The compensator 530 is coupled to the velocity estimation module 510.The compensator 530 receives the horizontal component velocities and thevertical component velocities generated by the velocity estimationmodule 510 and generates a plurality of transformation matrixescorresponding to the bands according to the horizontal componentvelocities, the vertical component velocities, the row readout time, andthe width of the valid area. The compensator 530 further transforms oneof any two adjacent original images according to the transformationmatrixes to generate a compensated image.

In another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 50 furtherincludes a smooth velocity generator 520 connected between the velocityestimation module 510 and the compensator 530 in series. The smoothvelocity generator 520 performs a smoothing process on the horizontalcomponent velocities and the vertical component velocities received fromthe velocity estimation module 510 and sends the processed horizontalcomponent velocities and vertical component velocities to thecompensator 530. Other details of the operation flow in the presentembodiment have been described in foregoing embodiments therefore willnot be described herein.

In summary, in the invention, regarding a skew, shrunk, stretched, orwobble image caused by rolling shutter, an image processing apparatushaving a CMOS image sensor can perform velocity estimation according tolocal motions, global motions, and a capturing time difference togenerate transformation matrixes, transform the distorted imageaccording to the transformation matrixes to generate a compensatedimage. Thereby, the problem of image distortion can be resolved.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of theinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention covermodifications and variations of this invention provided they fall withinthe scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing method, for continuouslycapturing a plurality of original images according to a capturing timedifference, wherein a valid area of the original images has a size ofM×N, M is a length of the valid area, N is a width of the valid area,and M and N are positive integers, the image processing methodcomprising: dividing each of the original images into K bands, wherein Kis a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; calculating aplurality of local motions of each of the bands in any two adjacent ofthe original images, and calculating a global motion of each of thebands according to the local motions of the band; generating a pluralityof horizontal component velocities and a plurality of vertical componentvelocities of the bands according to the capturing time difference andthe global motions respectively; generating a plurality oftransformation matrixes corresponding to the bands according to thehorizontal component velocities, the vertical component velocities, arow readout time, and the width of the valid area; and transforming oneof the two adjacent original images according to the transformationmatrixes to generate a compensated image.
 2. The image processing methodaccording to claim 1 further comprising: performing a smoothing processon the horizontal component velocities and the vertical componentvelocities respectively to generate a plurality of smooth horizontalcomponent velocities and a plurality of smooth vertical componentvelocities corresponding to the bands.
 3. The image processing methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the step of generating the transformationmatrixes corresponding to the bands according to the horizontalcomponent velocities, the vertical component velocities, the row readouttime, and the width of the valid area comprises: generating thetransformation matrixes corresponding to the bands according to thesmooth horizontal component velocities, the smooth vertical componentvelocities, the row readout time, and the width of the valid area. 4.The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the rowreadout time is a time required by an image processing apparatus forreading one row within the valid area of the original images.
 5. Theimage processing method according to claim 1 further comprising:generating a scaling matrix according to the length of the valid areaand the width of the valid area; and transforming the compensated imageaccording to the scaling matrix to generate an user oriented image. 6.The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein a valid areaof the user oriented image has a size of M′×N′, wherein M′ is a lengthof the valid area of the user oriented image, N′ is a width of the validarea of the user oriented image, and M′ and N′ are positive integers. 7.An image processing apparatus, for continuously capturing a plurality oforiginal images according to a capturing time difference, wherein avalid area of the original images has a size of M×N, M is a length ofthe valid area, N is a width of the valid area, and M and N are positiveintegers, the image processing apparatus comprising: a velocityestimation module, dividing each of the original images into K bands,wherein K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, calculatinga plurality of local motions of each of the bands in any adjacent two ofthe original images, calculating a global motion of each of the bandsaccording to the local motions of the band, and generating a pluralityof horizontal component velocities and a plurality of vertical componentvelocities of the bands according to the capturing time difference andthe global motions respectively; and a compensator, coupled to thevelocity estimation module, generating a plurality of transformationmatrixes corresponding to the bands according to the horizontalcomponent velocities, the vertical component velocities, a row readouttime, and the width of the valid area, and transforming one of the twoadjacent original images according to the transformation matrixes togenerate a compensated image.
 8. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 7 further comprising: a smooth velocity generator,connected between the velocity estimation module and the compensator inseries, performing a smoothing process on the horizontal componentvelocities and the vertical component velocities respectively andsending the processed horizontal component velocities and the processedvertical component velocities to the compensator.
 9. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the compensatorgenerates a scaling matrix according to the length of the valid area andthe width of the valid area and transforms the compensated imageaccording to the scaling matrix to generate an user oriented image. 10.The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a validarea of the user oriented image has a size of M′×N′, wherein M′ is alength of the valid area of the user oriented image, N′ is a width ofthe valid area of the user oriented image, and M′ and N′ are positiveintegers.